TIME magazine’s senior writer John Cloud recently pondered the question of nutraceutical dietary supplements in this way:

“Vitamins, probiotics, omega-3 capsules, antioxidant pills: they can’t hurt, right? Around the corner of each advancing birthday lurks a possible affliction –  arthritis, cancer, Alzheimer’s – and a giant industry has emerged to try to prevent them all.

“North Americans now spend an estimated $28 billion a year on dietary supplements –  more than twice what we spent in 1995 and more than $5 billion more than what we pay each year for gym memberships. But do supplements actually work?”

Here’s what happened to John:     ,     Continue reading →